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Monday, September 29, 2014

The
principle of meditation has been around as long as man. Many religions and
alternative therapists have expounded its benefits and perhaps made more
popular with the advent of eastern philosophies and yoga. For those of us that
have come from a more mainstream philosophy towards life, the use of the word
“meditation” can switch one off immediately.

However,
there are so many physiological and psychological
advantages to meditation, that we shouldn’t demonise the practical benefits
over the spiritual application.

Recently, I have been thinking a lot about the busyness of life
and the entrapment that excessive activity brings. (See “Take time to
breathe”). It concerns me that with all the supposed socials aids we have
adapted to (in order to make life easier), we are in fact more pre-occupied
with activity, than at any time in history. We have developed a multiplicity of
communication mediums, yet the intimacy of it, (I believe) has become the
poorer.

It is common place to see groups of individual’s texting or deep
in conversation on the phone, whilst those they are with, are being totally
ignored. This is not “multi-tasking”, its impersonal and communication at its
poorest form.

I make a conscious effort to switch off all access points, in the
presence of an individual, except for the person that I am presently engaged
with. With so many communication gates open to us, (internet, mobile phones,
advertising), we are in fact consuming noise like a sponge, and the inevitable
outcome is to become immune or insensitive towards it (people).

Our senses have
a way of blanking out noise we are familiar with, and awakened to noise which
we are not accustomed to such as, environmental conditions, geographic,
demographics etc.

We need to take control back of our senses, for the benefit and
quality of our communication.

We cannot live life devoid of people, but we can
guard and control what and when, those individuals communicate with us. By
starting our day with a time to breathe, relax and think, we are more
productive and able to cope with the stresses that will come throughout the
day.

I wake in the morning “naturally”, as I find being “alarmed” into the day,
is neither natural nor stimulating. There are few things in my day that are prioritized as “urgent” or “life threatening”. In my working day, I prioritise
importance and guard against the tyranny of urgencies. An individual that is
unwilling or incapable of planning their day should not inflict that
expectation upon another, unless it is life or death. If more people took time
to breathe, think and plan, less stress would occupy our lives.

So what is meditation? Well simply, it is the practice of
exclusion and inclusion. Excluding factors that distract our thought life and
including strategies to narrow ones focus.

Take a cow! (not literally) It seems to spend its life chewing the cud and staring
over fences, but in fact it is doing naturally, what it needs to do for its
growth and well-being. A cow goes through a process of chewing, ruminating,
regurgitating and finally swallowing. It does this in order to get the maximum
extraction of nutrients from it food, until what’s left has little value and
returns to the earth as waste. It is in a sense “meditating.” By focusing on
the process (regardless of the view and other animals around it), it is
maximising the essential building blocks of life.

The art of meditation is concentrated focus. As a child, I was
gifted a magnifying glass. It didn’t take me long to figure out that
concentrating the light from the sun onto a friends hand, would burn him. Later
on, I learned a bigger lesson.

The power of the sun + Magnifying glass+Ripe
Corn field= Disastrous Fire.

The power released from focused concentration (meditation) is
immeasurable, yet it remains “untapped” by most individuals who are busy (and preoccupied),
rubbing sticks to create a fire.

Whilst there are many reported benefits to meditating, research is
ongoing. Below is a list of the reported physiological, psychological and
spiritual benefits that meditation may bring. Of course, ones particular belief system will determine the spiritual practices and benefits. As a Christian, my meditation time places an emphasis on connecting with God, hearing His direction through prayer, reading His word, learning from Christs exemplary lifestyle and listening to His spirit for guidance. The focus of my meditation is to transform to His image and pattern. Romans 12:1-2.

Can cure infertility (the stresses of infertility can interfere with the release of hormones that regulate ovulation).

Lowers oxygen consumption

Increases respiratory rate

Psychological
benefits:Builds self-confidence.Increases serotonin level, influences mood and behaviour.Resolve phobias & fearsHelps control own thoughtsHelps with focus & concentrationIncrease creativityIncreased brain wave coherence.Improved learning ability and memory.Increased feelings of vitality and rejuvenation.Increased emotional stability.Improved relationshipsMind ages at slower rateEasier to remove bad habitsDevelops intuitionIncreased ProductivityImproved relations at home & at workAble to see the larger picture in a given situationHelps ignore petty issuesIncreased ability to solve complex problemsPurifies your characterDevelop will powerGreater communication between the two brain hemispheresReact more quickly and more effectively to a stressful event.Increases one’s perceptual ability and motor performanceHigher intelligence growth rateIncreased job satisfactionIncrease in the capacity for intimate contact with loved onesDecrease in potential mental illnessBetter, more sociable behaviourLess aggressivenessHelps in quitting smoking, alcohol addictionReduces need and dependency on substancesNeed less sleep to recover from sleep deprivationRequire less time to fall asleep, helps cure insomniaIncreases sense of responsibilityReduces road rageDecrease in restless thinkingDecreased tendency to worryIncreases listening skills and empathyHelps make more accurate judgmentsGreater toleranceGives composure to act in a considered wayGrows a stable, more balanced personalityDevelops emotional maturity

Spiritual
benefits:Helps keep things in perspective (true focus and priority)Provides peace of mind, happinessHelps you discover your purpose, mission and destinyIncreased awareness of God and selfIncreased compassionGrowing wisdom in the word of GodDeeper understanding of yourself and othersBrings body, mind, spirit into balanceSpiritual rest and relaxationIncreased acceptance of oneselfHelps to teach us forgivenessChanges ones attitude and effectiveness toward lifeCreates a deeper relationship with GodAttain revelation Greater sense of directionHelps us to live day by dayCreates a widening, deepening capacity for loveClarifies awarenessExperience an inner sense of eternityExperience a sense of Intimacy with GodSynchronizes your life

Taking time to think and breathe is completely
FREE! It requires no special equipment, and is not complicated to learn. It can
be practiced anywhere, at any given moment, and it is not time consuming (15-20
min). The key factor in meditation is prioritizing ones day, in order to consciously align ones priorities. It isn't a magical cure, it is a philosophy of life. Either we are controlled by the demands of life and others, or we "choose" our priorities. That which we focus upon becomes our centrality. Taking time to process inspiration (a bible reading, biography, prayer or situation) allows us to feed from that input.

By giving yourself permission to think, focus and breathe, your day will better cope with stresses and strains that a normal life can bring. You owe it to yourself and those around you to live life empowered and prepared.

Spend the next week meditating on this verse and record your observations. Meditate, ruminate, mull it over in your mind and discover its wonders.

Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law does he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

My world
is surrounded by individuals who are convinced that activity brings life and all
movement is forward. Truth is, not all movement or activity creates or sustains
life. "Moving on", "Moved on", "Cut off",
"Bridges burned" are all popular euphemism’s for having taken control
of one’s present status.

Take time to breathe.

The Shepherd psalm is one of my favourites. Its metaphors
deal with three fundamental factors.

1. We are entrusted to a shepherd that will lead us and care
for us

2. Safe provision and sustenance in the midst of anxiety are
assured.

3. There is a specific pathway that must be followed in order
to remain safe, sustained and secure.

Historically, (and still in many countries today), the
shepherd takes responsibility to lead his flock to places of refreshing and nourishment,
a midst a barren and dangerous environment. Sheep are created uniquely in that
their noses and mouth are submerged during drinking. Turbulent waters can drown
them quite easily; therefore the shepherd would often lay upstream from the
sheep, causing the waters to be held back, thus creating calm pools (he leads me
beside the still waters) for the sheep to drink.

Sheep that choose to run ahead of the shepherds and launch
into the waters will often drown or be carried away in their rush to be
refreshed and sustained.

It’s easy to obtain, but difficult to sustain.

We live in "The Now" world!

Waiting and patience
is now uncommon to western society. We hate queues, are often intolerant, and
demand our possessions now! After all, we are worth it? Why shouldn't we have
the best now? "Sign on the line and make it yours" the marketers tell
us.No deposit, instant finance, delayed payments!

Remember dial-up speeds? These days we moan and groan if we cant
download a file in 3 minutes!

We have imbibed an age of intolerance and character traits
such as patience, peace, kindness, forbearance, gentleness, self-control and
loveare in short supply.

It concerns me that many can gain all, yet lose everything,
for what profit is there in having much but no peace in which to enjoy it.

One’s soul consists of mind, will and emotions. If one’s
mind is set on self-gain in order to sustain a ravenous will, then no true
peace will be found, at any cost.

Provision is a by-product of spiritual rest.

Many years ago, I was observing a greyhound dog speeding across
the fields and it was only when it stopped that I could see it only had three
legs. It was incomplete, yet had developed a process by which it could regain
its former activity. Many are like that greyhound! At full pace, things look
normal, when in reality they are not.

Often tragedies and events happen in life in order for us to
prioritise the presentthat in time will define ones future.

Activity is not life, although life can come out of
activity.

Clinical death is the medical term for cessation of blood
circulation and breathing, the two necessary criteria to sustain life. It
occurs when the heart stops beating in a regular rhythm, a condition called
cardiac arrest. The term is sometimes used in resuscitation research.

It is possible therefore; that an individual can have no
outward signs of life and yet be alive! Show signs of life and yet be dead! The
human soul can show all the signs of actual life and yet its activities are
dead.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack
nothing.

Be led, be still, be refreshed.

He makes me lie down in green
pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he refreshes my soul.

He leads me besides the still
waters

Taking time to breathe,means taking time for restoration!
Being restored is not a one off event it is a daily process. There is no
system, regime or event that can precipitate ones refreshing other than the
personal responsibility to:

1. Be led

2. Be still

3. Be refreshed

Restoration by definition: is to take something back to its
original state. It is not a repair or a re-fit, it is a complete stripping back
to the bare bones of what we were created to be. One cannot earn it, or be
active in order to facilitate it. It has nothing to do with self and everything
to do with the shepherd, who will lead us, feed us and restore us.

Presently, (like the three legged dog), many are at full
tilt searching for significance. Yet it’s not found in the whirl wind
experience, nor the lightening in the storm, but a still small voice that is
heard in this rest, from beside the streams of refreshing!

It's a lonely place
to be, as there is no fill-in music, no motivational speaker nor lighting or
ambiance, it is the bare bones of creation. The breath of life.

Coaching 4 Life Blog

About Me

I enjoy bringing the best out of people and being a part of a global family. I operate Coaching 4 Life ltd and travel as an itinerant Pastor and support worker in most aspects of leadership development.
I have traveled extensively to speak @ conferences, congregations, leadership seminars, businesses and coaching clinics. Most recently, my focus has been in the education sector, providing quality control, workplace assessment, academic and curriculum development.

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Welcome to my blogroll

Hi, and welcome to "I've Been Thinking".

My intention with this blog, is not to deluge the "blogasphere" with meaningless chatter, or even to gain accolade among my peers. It is a place where I can collate the myriad of thoughts and musings I have floating around my mind. To those of you who are reading, I hope it in some way spurs you on to at least think.

Unity is not "sameness", it is diversity with a measure of commonality. The hardest thing to open is a closed mind, and the bravest thing we can do is open our mind to the risk that we may have a change of thinking that could lead to a changed and empowered lifestyle.

The snippets that you read, will @ some point find themselves in a book I am writing (or have written), inspiration from others will be credited so.

All slide photographs are from my own personal portfolio and collection. Where alternative images are used,they are from "public domain" or "Royalty free" resources. Should you know different, please verify source.

At "Iv'e Been Thinking," all successes, accuracies and appreciations are attributed to God.